OnTheBuffers
Member
I used a route for the first time yesterday that I may repeat a few times, so would like to check I have things understood correctly.
Short version: Off Peak Birmingham to SW London return with 9I restriction claimed by SWR machines and staff to not be valid ex-WAT at 18:20.
Longer...
Travelled Thames Ditton - Birmingham New Street. Selected ticket for outward starting c. 8pm on Wed evening, return commenced c. 4pm Thurs. Various Off-Peak Return proposals were same price so I randomly-ish picked one, read the restrictions to check it looked OK and purchased it - which was this one with a 9I restriction: https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=THD&dest=BHM&grpd=0418&ldn=1&tkt=SVR.
I hadn't spotted that the return itinerary I'd selected was Birmingham - WatfordJ - ClaphamJ - Thames Ditton, and would probably have travelled my default route via Euston. However, I received an online message that the ex-WFJ train was cancelled, which led me realise what I'd booked and make few more checks that I wasn't on some restricted route ticket - which I didn't seem to be.
Joined 16:47 from Birmingham which was a bit delayed. No snags with onboard ticket check or at Euston + Waterloo Tube using ticket inserted to barriers.
Now about 18:20 at WAT, which is a bit earlier than needed to join the 18:36 to THD in original itinerary. SWR barrier machine would not open gates for me. Gentleman on the gates said Off Peak ticket not valid, but as he said so did that curious thing of opening gate as if inviting me to test whether on-train revenue team would be as understanding. As I moved swiftly by to get the 18:24 I thanked him and said that it was now Off Peak into London for the originating section which was what mattered. I felt a bit rude as I kept moving while he perfectly politely started to tell me otherwise...
There were no on-train checks to help me finalise a view. Exited by showing ticket at Surbiton rather than trying to use a machine which might have rejected it leading to me shuffling across busy gateline. No comments from staff there.
After further dummy ticket purchases that would use ex-WAT at similar time and reading here I remain pretty sure that my ticket was valid for the route and time I ended up travelling, but since I varied from purchased route and timings would like to check
.
Short version: Off Peak Birmingham to SW London return with 9I restriction claimed by SWR machines and staff to not be valid ex-WAT at 18:20.
Longer...
Travelled Thames Ditton - Birmingham New Street. Selected ticket for outward starting c. 8pm on Wed evening, return commenced c. 4pm Thurs. Various Off-Peak Return proposals were same price so I randomly-ish picked one, read the restrictions to check it looked OK and purchased it - which was this one with a 9I restriction: https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=THD&dest=BHM&grpd=0418&ldn=1&tkt=SVR.
I hadn't spotted that the return itinerary I'd selected was Birmingham - WatfordJ - ClaphamJ - Thames Ditton, and would probably have travelled my default route via Euston. However, I received an online message that the ex-WFJ train was cancelled, which led me realise what I'd booked and make few more checks that I wasn't on some restricted route ticket - which I didn't seem to be.
Joined 16:47 from Birmingham which was a bit delayed. No snags with onboard ticket check or at Euston + Waterloo Tube using ticket inserted to barriers.
Now about 18:20 at WAT, which is a bit earlier than needed to join the 18:36 to THD in original itinerary. SWR barrier machine would not open gates for me. Gentleman on the gates said Off Peak ticket not valid, but as he said so did that curious thing of opening gate as if inviting me to test whether on-train revenue team would be as understanding. As I moved swiftly by to get the 18:24 I thanked him and said that it was now Off Peak into London for the originating section which was what mattered. I felt a bit rude as I kept moving while he perfectly politely started to tell me otherwise...
There were no on-train checks to help me finalise a view. Exited by showing ticket at Surbiton rather than trying to use a machine which might have rejected it leading to me shuffling across busy gateline. No comments from staff there.
After further dummy ticket purchases that would use ex-WAT at similar time and reading here I remain pretty sure that my ticket was valid for the route and time I ended up travelling, but since I varied from purchased route and timings would like to check
.
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